Roche Dumps Rights to Former Top Prospect

Roche is selling off parts of the rights to lebrikizumab, which at one point was one of its top prospect meds, after latest asthma trials disappoint. The deal is possibly worth more than $1 billion.

In 2016, Roche found that the monoclonal antibody only met its goal in one of two identical Phase III studies.

Dermira has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights from Roche to pursue the drug in atopic dermatitis. Dermira will make initial payments to Roche for approximately $135 million for the rights. If trials hit certain milestones in a Phase IIB study, Dermira may pay Roche up to $1 billion.

Roche will hold onto the rights to lebrikizumab for lung diseases and it will pursue approval for that past 2019.

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